Immersive Tales for the Curious Traveler

Menu

To the Beat of the Moules Frites

We arrived in Marseille on a dusty summer afternoon, tired and moody. It was just at that witching hour when everything we wanted to see was closed and the spirited port took its afternoon siesta. Good thing some folks in Marseille march to a different beat, because at the end of a noiseless alley was one small restaurant determined to keep its door ajar. Blue checkered tablecloths gaily waved to us from the sidewalk, clinking glasses invited us in, and the aromatic fragrance of mussels steamed in herb broth beckoned our empty stomachs. We have taken the delicious dish one step further to evoke that tangy, spicy, pastis filled afternoon we remember so well.

BT’s MOULES FRITES RECIPE

Serves 4 Total Time: 30 Minutes [Prep=20 minutes, cook=10 minutes]

WHAT YOU NEED

4 pounds mussels, cleaned and de-bearded

6 tablespoons minced shallot

6 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 sprigs fresh thyme

3 cups dry white wine*

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon saffron

2 tablespoons fennel fronds, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

WHAT TO DO

For MUSSELS:

1. In a large pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and salt to the pot. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes until shallots and garlic are soft and translucent.

2. Add the white wine, parsley, and saffron to the mixture. Bring the sauce to a boil. Add the cleaned mussels, stirring thoroughly once before covering.

3. Let the mussels steam in the broth for 5 minutes or until almost all muscles have opened their shells. Give mussels one last stir and pick out unopened ones to discard. Add in the fennel fronds, black pepper, and fresh thyme to the mussels before serving.

I love moules frites. On our honeymoon, my husband and I ate them all through Belgium and couldn’t get enough. I’ve never made them myself. Thanks for the recipe! I’ll have to make them at home one of these days for a special occasion to bring back memories from our trip.

Moules frites were one of our staples while touring the south of France and is tied to so many memories of the unflustered life we had there. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy making the moules frites at home.